Automatic gauging stop for shearing machines



Feb. 2, 1937. M. A. PALMER I AUTOMATIC GAUGING STOP FOR SHEARING MACHINES Filed Oct. 26, 1935 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATKC GAUGING STOP FOR SHEAR- vINGr MACHINES Application October 26, 1935, Serial No. 46,903

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a shearing machine for cutting plates or sheets and particularly to a gauging stop therefor that is automatically adjustable to cut pieces of varying lengths.

A shears embodying the invention is especially adapted for cutting metal plates serving as heating elements in heat exchange apparatus. One known type of heat exchange apparatus has a cylindrical casing the interior of which is divided by radially disposed partitions to form a number of sector shaped chambers. In each chamber there is provided a set of heating elements consisting of a number of pairs of metal plates disposed so as to extend between the radial partition, the several pairs of a set being located at different distances from the center of the casing. As a consequence, the lengths of the different pairs of plates constituting a set vary in length, and frequently the pairs vary progressively by a like increment of length. That is, a set may consist of a number of plate pairs varying by say one quarter inch; one pair having a length of 19 inches, for example, another pair of 18% inches, a pair of 18% inches etc.

Heretofore, in cutting such sets of heating elements from a sheet of metal it has been necessary to set a stop gauge on the shearing machine to cut a plate of desired length and to then manually reposition the stop after each pair, or other number, of plates has been cut in order to out other pairs of plates having a different length. It is apparent that this procedure takes up part of the time of the shears operator, or an assistant, and also causes the shears to be inactive temporarily.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shearing machine with a gauging stop that is automatically adjustable to cut pieces of varying length from a sheet of metal.

Another object is to provide means for causing the shears to cut a desired number of pieces of one size and to then automatically condition itself to cut a number of pieces of another size.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof and of the appended claims 50 when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a shearing machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view correspond- 55 ing with Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional viewon the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

.Figure 4 is an enlarged view of that part of the device which determines the increment of stop movement; and 5 Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing one manner of supporting the stops.

Referring to the drawing, the shearing machine comprises a blade ll) vertically reciprocable with respect to a support for a sheet of metal 10 from which plates are to be cut. The blade is actuated by an eccentric H on a shaft l2 driven by a motor l3 and is suitably controlled to cut one plate at a time, as by means of a foot pedal l4 acting through a clutch (not shown). At one 15 side of the machine frame l5 the sheet support comprises a number of spaced bars l6 between which are a series of movable gauging stops l1. These stops are located at a level for engagement by the end edge of a sheet on the support. 20 The sheet is fed from the right-hand side of the machine (Figs. 1 and 2) and the distance of the stops IT to the left of blade I!) determines the length of a plate cut from the sheet by the shears. When a plate has been cut it is re- 25 moved from the bars I5 before the sheet is fed to the left beneath the blade into engagement with the stops IT preliminary to cutting the next plate.

The stops I? are mounted on supports l8 se- 30 cured to a transverse bar l9 connected at its ends to a pair of slideable racks 2! suitably guided on side members 22 extending from the machine frame. The racks 2! are engaged by pinions 22 on a shaft 23 having a ratchet 24 fixed thereto. 35 The ratchet is actuated by a disengageable plunger type pawl 25 (Fig. 3) carried on an arm 26 loosely mounted on shaft 23. Arm 26 is connected by a link rod 21 to an adjustable eccentric stud 28 on a gear 38 mounted on a stub shaft on the machine frame. Gear 30 meshes with a gear 3| secured to the blade-actuating shaft l2. As shown in Figure 4, stud 28 is adjustably mounted in slides 32 on gear 30, being held in' adjusted position by nut 33. Hence the eccentricity of stud 28 may be changed to vary the stroke of pawl 25 and thus variably controlthe extent or increment of movement of the stops IT with respect to blade ill for each rotation of gear 30. The ratio between gears 3|] and 3| determines the number of plates in a series of like lengths that are cut from a sheet prior to automatic adjustment of stops H to cause a like number of a different length to be cut; a tWo to one ratio, for example, causing actuation of ratchet 24 once for each two cutting cycles so that two plates of one length may be out before the stop is automatically positioned for cutting another pair of the next length.

It is apparent that the direction of rotative movement imparted to" ratchet 24 determines whether the stops I! are moved away from the blade for cutting plate series of progressively increasing size or toward the blade to cut series of decreasing size.

To avoid buckling of the plates; or jamming or breakage of the stops, in the event the stops I! are moved toward blade while the latter is in engagement with the sheet, or when resistance is offered by the stock, the stops are preferably.

yieldingly mounted on the supports l8. As shown in Figure 5, each stop I] isattachedtoa member 34 and a coil spring 35 is mounted between the support l8 and a nut 36 on a bolt 3] that extends through support. I8 and the member 34.

Thus, on actuation of ratchet 24 to position stops I! nearer the blade ID .for cutting a: smaller 7 plate the support 18 takes up the new position while the stops l'l remain'in the old position until the resistance is removed, whereupon the springs act to cause the stops to follow their support. This arrangement also facilitates removal of a piece or plate that has been cut and which bears at one end against the uncut'stock and atthe other against the stops l1 since the latter may yield to permit removal of the cut piece. If desired the stops ll may be formed of resilient material adapted to yield under stress.

What 'I claim is:

1. In a shearing machine having a support for a sheet of material'frorn which pieces are to be cut, a cutting blade, and means for actuating said blade; a stop engageable by a sheet on said support and adjustable with respect to said blade to variably gauge the length of a piece cut from said sheet thereby; and means operable by said 'blade actuating meansfor periodically moving said stop with respect to said blade to cause the latter to cut a plurality of pieces varying in length. r r

2. In a shearing machine having a support for a sheet of material from which pieces are to be cut, a cutting blade, and means for actuating said blade; a stop engageable by a sheet on said support and adjustable with respect to said blade 1 to variably gauge the length of a piece cut from said sheet thereby; means for moving said stop to variably gauge'the length of a piece cut from said sheet thereby; means operable by said blade actuating means for periodically moving said stop in uniform steps with respect to said blade to cause the latter to cut a plurality of pieces varying in length by a determined increment; and adjustable means controlling said operating means to determine the extent of the increment of variation in length among said pieces.

4. In a shearing machine having a support for V a sheet of material from which pieces are to be cut, a cutting blade, and means for actuating said -blade;'a stop engageable by a sheet on said support and adjustable with respect to said blade to variably gauge the length of apiece cut from,

said sheet thereby; means for moving said stop to change its position with respect to said blade; and means controlled by said blade actuating blade to out another series of pieces of another length.

5. In ashearing machine'having a support for a sheet of material from which pieces are to be cut, a cutting blade, and means for actuating said blade; a'stop engageable by a sheet on said support and adjustable with respect to said blade to,

variably gauge. the length of a piece cut from said sheet thereby; and means controlled by said,

by said blade; a support for said stop movable with respect to said blade for changing the position 'of said stop; means operable by said blade actuating means during actuation of said blade to cut one piece of material for moving said stop support toward said blade to cause said blade to cut a shorter'piece upon a subsequent actuation; and means yieldingly connecting said stop to said support for permitting said movement .of the latter during cutting of one'piece by said blade and acting on removal of said one piece for effect-- ing corresponding movement of said stop.

7. In ashearing'machine having a'frame, a

support thereon for a sheet of material from which pieces are to be cut, a cutting blade, blade actuating means, and a stop engageable by the edge of'a sheet on said support and movable along the latter with respect to said blade for variably gauging the length of a piece cut from said sheet};

a rack carrying said stop and mounted on said frame for movement thereon to change theposition of said stop with respect to saidblade; a

pinion engaging said rack; and means operable by? said blade actuating means for periodically operating said pinion to cause a change in the position of said stop.

8. In a shearing machine having a cutting blade, a support for a sheet of material, and

means for actuating said blade to cut a piece of material from said sheet; a measuring stop engageable by a sheet on said support and movable to change its position'with respect to said blade for determining the length of a piece cut from 65 said sheet by said blade; and means operable by said blade actuating means for moving said stop to automatically change its measuring position with respect to said blade.

MYRON A. PALMER. 

